General Information

Name: Jerry Klein

Illinois Connection

Klein was born in Peoria and grew up in the city's East Bluff. He graduated from Spalding High School in 1945. After the war, he received a bachelor's degree in music from Bradley University in 1950 and completed two years of graduate study at the University of Illinois.

Biographical and Professional Information

Jerry Klein was a journalist and the author of several books. He joined the Peoria Journal Star in 1953 as an editorial writer. During his 55-year career at the Journal Star, Jerry Klein wore many hats. He edited copy, wrote editorials, covered the local arts scene and reviewed hundreds of performances. He also wrote a Sunday column on a number of topics — a favorite was the beauty of the ever-changing weather in central Illinois. He spent most of his professional life as music and drama critic for the Peoria Journal Star and author of the Journal Star's "Once over Lightly" column.

After his retirement from the Journal Star in 1992, Jerry continued to write opinion articles for the Peoria Journal Star and the "It Seems to Me" column for The Catholic Post.

Jerry was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Spalding Institute in 2010 for his exceptional service and dedication to the principles and values of Peoria Notre Dame.